Delaying a conflict is often a useful, even necessary tactic, yet delay carries a negative connotation. That should not be: first, because delay stands or falls on the merits of its application; second, because there are other words like procrastinating that are more specific and ready to be saddled with a presumption of fault. The American Senate managed to put off the Civil War for decades with jawboning, callous disregard for the enslaved, and weird political compromises. And, yet, had the Civil War been fought much earlier than it was, the free states, as such, probably would have lacked the political coherence, European diplomatic and commercial heft - and warmaking capacity - to win.
Put short: Retreat is an essential tactic, but stalling is usually cheaper and better than retreat when the reasons for a would-be retreat are already known.
